Meet Etsy Seller DorisSardelisDesigns

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop DorisSardelisDesigns

DorisSardelisDesigns has been selling on Etsy since March 2012, they sell beautiful clothing for boys and girls such as dresses, sunsuits, shorts and more! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
I previously owned a boutique in Manhattan, NY where I sold my handmade children's clothing. It was about 35+ years ago, in the age before internet/social media/computers, so everything was done either by word of mouth or by me going out to buyers and department stores promoting my items. I had an extensive amount of roles being the only employee in my business from designing, pattern-making, cutting, sewing, tailoring, embroidering, detailing, advertising, maintaining my boutique and inventory, bookkeeping, buying fabric and trims, customer service, and creating business deals and contracts with department stores just to name some of my responsibilities. I burned myself out since it was only me! After closing my boutique in 1994, I took a long hiatus until 2012 when my daughter mentioned about her friends selling items on etsy. Since I had a large inventory of my pre-made items that I previously created for my boutique that were not moving out of my design studio, I decided to try it out and it's been great ever since!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I was surprised that I get to have a direct interaction with my customers and direct feedback. I thought online shopping was a more "anti-social" way of buying items, but that is not the case! I really like that I get to interact with my customer to ensure a perfect fit of the garment, and it gives me insight on my clientele. I would never go back to my old business ways, that's for sure!! It is a lot easier and less stressful, plus I do not have to pay to rent business space in NYC!

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
My sspecialities include sailor outfits, sundresses, sun-suits, shortalls, rompers, dresses, pantaloons, bow ties, sunhats, pants, woven blouses and special occasion clothes for boys and girls. My favorite item to make is suspender pants/shorts for boys or ring bearers, however I am most known for my sailor suits. I like to make anything that makes my customer happy that fits within my design aesthetic.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
The most challenging aspect is trying to list my inventory on Etsy. I am very overwhelmed since I have approximately 1,000+ items that I previously made for my boutique and it takes a lot of time to list since I am very detail-oriented and a bit of a perfectionist.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
All of my designs, fabric, trims, buttons, thread---(you name it!) are made in the USA. I make ALL of my items in my home studio in New Jersey. I do have some liberty print fabric and rare Viyella fabric from England, however it is impeccably high quality.
I do not support sweatshops or cheaply, flimsy-made fabric from overseas.
Although my pre-made designs are vintage, (made 20+ years ago), they are new since they have not been worn before.

What do you do when you aren't working?
When I'm not working I like to spend time with my family. I am a workaholic and being a children's clothing designer has always been my only profession.

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
I have a large inventory, so if you have any requests on size, design, color, etc. please convo me! I will search through everything to find something that you would love! : ) I do some custom orders on occasion. If interested in a size or fabric not listed, contact me on etsy and I will determine if I have the materials. I love to dress children and babies in my classic, high quality-made clothing!


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Meet Etsy Seller The Petit Cadeau

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop ThePetitCadeau

ThePetitCadeau has been selling on Etsy since May 2014, they run a 'Petit Mail' subscription where children receive a colourful letter each month, and also sell handmade canvas bags for special occasions. Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
I have been blogging about "thoughtful gifting" since 2011, and in 2013 I started making products - handmade gift bags and celebration countdown calendars that were part of my handmade, thoughtful gifting philosophy.
In 2014 I started Petit Mail - snail mail subscriptions, play mail and story cards for children, and I decided to open my shop to Etsy because I'm passionate about my products and I wanted to share them with as many people as possible!

What is the story behind your shop name?
The Petit Cadeau means "small gift" in French.  I believe in quality, handmade products and the thought and care behind those products, especially when giving a gift.  Small, thoughtful gestures are always the most meaningful!

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I LOVE creating Petit Mail subscriptions - I created the concept for Oliver + Olivia and I write the stories and text for the letters each month.
Every Petit Mail letter is created by hand. I trim the cards and round the corners of each letter - I address each envelope with your child's name and address.  It truly is a labor of love!
Our neighborhood has community mailboxes (at the end of our street) so as soon as my daughter could walk, we would go on little adventures to the mailbox to check the mail. She is 3.5 years old, and loves to carry the mail, open the mail, and play with the bright colorful flyers (and sometimes the boxes that come for me). I decided that I wanted bright, fun mail for her to open so that she could experience the joy of receiving her very own mail. Every month brings something new, and I love coming up with stories for each month, and getting feedback from readers and customers on what adventure Oliver and Olivia should have next.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
My products reflect the experience of thoughtful gifting. I believe in opportunities to engage with our children, however small they may be.  Petit Mail creates an opportunity to check the mail with our children, to read together, and to encourage pretend play and imagination afterwards.
My celebration countdown calendars are designed to bring delight and meaning to occasions worth celebrating (whether it be birthdays, family vacations, school achievements or other important milestones).  Heirloom countdown calendars can be use year after year and passed down through generations.  It's less about the little gifts that you enclose inside, and more about togetherness and creating a special family tradition year after year.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I have a full-time day job at a local non-profit, so when I'm not working at my creative business, I'm working there!  I'm also Mom to a 3.5 year old and another bambino coming this Summer.
I was formerly an avid runner, but I have moved to more gentle yoga in the past few years.  I love to create, to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea and to have cozy gatherings with good friends!

ThePetitCadeau is offering a 10% discount on her Petit Mail subscription. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "SNAILMAIL" at checkout. 


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Meet Etsy Seller Bows For Your Bellas

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop BowsForYourBellas

BowsForYourBellas has been selling on Etsy since July 2014, they sell adorable handmade hairbows! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
My three girls are what motivates me!  I would buy hair bows for my girls when I needed something special for the holiday's or picture day with the family and I found that I just could not find exactly what I was looking for.
I thought to myself, I am sure I could make a bow myself!  So I went shopping with the girls and we picked out their favorite colors and went home and started creating.  People started asking where I would get our themed bows from and I told them I made them, they would ask if I could make them one, and so that is where I started from.

What is the story behind your shop name?
Bella means beautiful in Italian and every girl is beautiful, so why not let them feel beautiful every day!  Of course there are days when we do not feel beautiful, but why not at least try and give these girls a smile when they pick out a Frozen bow, or a Disney inspired bow, or even a sports bow for the older girls, they walk away feeling beautiful even if they did not feel it early on.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
How much fun I would have creating new items for people when they asked "can you make this" or "do you have that"?
One of our favorite things is knowing that I can get a frozen bow or a sports bow out to that little girl in Chicago, because she cannot find one in her local boutique!

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
My most favorite creations are all of them, but I love the holiday bows, they are so much fun when picking out fun and scary Halloween cats or pumpkins.  There are such cute turkey bows for Thanksgiving and my personal favorite How The Grinch Stole Christmas bows!  My family loves the Grinch, we have a few different styles with the Grinch!

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I want my products to be durable for the little babies or girls out there that love to pull the clips out of their hair, but yet I want them to be dainty, soft looking and fun looking.
I want these hair bows to last longer than a year so they can wear it whenever they choose.  Since I want the bows to last for years to come I use all high quality grosgrain ribbon or silk ribbon and I use large and small alligator clips with teeth so they will hold in any type hair, I also put a small round felt piece on the back of all the bows attached to the clip and bow it self to make more durable.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I am with my 5 kids, I am on the PTA with their elementary school and preschool, I am with my kids taking them to sports practice and we just enjoy spending our time together as a family on the off days of no work and no school.

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
I know that there are so many wonderful shops out there that have bows and headbands, but I try to set my bows aside from others with my themes, and the sports bows along with that I am available to anyone one any time for custom orders, whether it be for your little girls birthday party or family picture day.  I am here to listen to the moms out there looking for that special something instead of having only what's available on my shop sight, I am open to any custom idea and will try my hardest to be able to fill it for you!

BowsForYourBellas is offering a 25% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS" at checkout. Valid until December 31st 2014.
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Meet Etsy Seller ShereesAtelier

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop ShereesAtelier

ShereesAtelier has been selling on Etsy since February 2009, they sell beautiful handmade clothing, cushions, accessories and more! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
I officially opened Sheree's Atelier in February of 2009 while living in Germany.  I had left my job as a chemist because my husband took on an expat assignment in Duesseldorf.  So we moved the family over to Germany and I started a blog as a way to keep in touch with friends and family back in the US.  The blog is called Sheree's Alchemy and I talked about our travels in Europe and I shared my sewing and knitting projects.  The blog started drawing an international audience of makers and not just my family and friends.  Many blog readers loved my fabric choices and combinations.  They were constantly asking where I got the fabric from and wanted tips to make the handmade items I was sharing on the blog.  They eventually encouraged me to open an Etsy shop selling fabric.  I opened Sheree's Alchemy in the Fall of 2008.  I sold lots of European fabric as well as US designer fabrics that I have moved over to Germany with me.  Next came the nudges to sell my handmade items.  So I started Sheree's Atelier to sell the things I made.  I have stocked the shop off and on over the years.  I just started this Fall working hard to build inventory and build up the shop.  I had a brick and mortar shop for a few years here in Michigan where I now live.  I closed the shop and now plan to focus more on selling on Etsy.

What is the story behind your shop name?
Well, my name is Sheree and ever since I was a little girl, I was fascinated with France and the French language.  I have no idea why.  I always loved perfumes and pretty things.  In middle school, I started taking French classes and continued through high school and college.  I am a chemist by training.  I have a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry.  I taught myself to sew when I was 12 and have been obsessed with it ever since.  I am naturally a creative person and I have always loved making things, mixing up things and seeing what new would come of it.  Because of this, Sheree's Alchemy would have been a perfect name for the shop, but I was already using it for my fabric shop  and I knew I wanted to have a separate shop for the handmade items.  I started thinking about studios and picturing myself in an old brick studio in France.  And the image of a French Atelier popped into my head.  Voila, it was a perfect fit.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I have always been surprised at how many people shop on line for handmade items.  I don't know many people in my personal life that share my passion for making and handmade.  So I have always been pleasantly surprised by the fact that people from all over the world somehow find my little shop and then make a purchase.  I actually have more international customers at this point.  So that is even more amazing and awesome to me.  I am always tickled when I package orders that are going to Australia or England.  The coolest place I have sent a package was Tasmania.  My kids really got a kick out of that.  I am also surprised at the support and networks that exist on Etsy.  I have made so many changes to my listings as far as pictures and descriptions, all based on help I have gotten in Etsy forums and team forums.  And I am still learning and improving.  As I start to put more effort in to building up the shop on Etsy, I have been using the online labs to learn about marketing.  Chemistry and lab work, I can handle.  Sewing, knitting, baking....no problem.  Marketing is a whole different kind of beast and I tend to shy away from self promotion.  But I am learning to put myself out there.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I also love to make a dress for a little girl.  When I was little, I lived in dresses.  I loved them with the fold over ruffle socks and fancy shoes.  My daughter also loved to wear dresses when she was little.  For a few years, I made nearly all of her clothes.  She was quite the little fashionista and that is when I first got attention from people requesting me to sew for them.  I sewed a little for customers and eventually met with a buyer for a local boutique where we lived.  I made a few collections for this boutique as well as another baby boutique in the town I lived in.  This was all before we moved to Germany.  It was the first experience of someone paying me to make something for them.  So little girls dresses are always special to me because of that and well, I just love a sweet little girl in a sweet little dress!

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
My biggest challenge is actually the isolation involved.  I am a one woman show.  I am running two shops and I do custom work locally.  So I tend to need to be very productive when it is work time.  As a result, I have found that I am not socializing as much.  When I had my brick and mortar shop, I was talking with people all the time.  I taught several classes every week, so I was interacting, teaching, learning, all the time.  Now, I tend to be in my studio alone, listening to music very loudly.  Most of the time I enjoy the alone time and quiet (besides the music).  I need to be alone and undistracted by others to sew and create new designs.  But I do wish sometimes that one or two days per week, I would be in a more social and creative setting.  I have considered opening my studio up for classes soon.  My customers want me to.  But on the flip side, it is very time consuming and goes against me building up my Etsy shop.  So I will stay focused and when the time is right, I will likely start to offer classes again.  We'll see what the future holds in that a regard.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I really aim to provide extremely well made products that are unique and beautiful but also have a practical purpose.  I work pretty much exclusively with natural fibers and fabrics, many of them are certified organic or made in Europe where harsh dyes are not used as much.  My taste is pretty bold and eclectic but I think classic and yet modern.  I spend a lot of time sourcing fabrics and supplies, making original patterns and designs and items are my one at a time with a great attention to detail.  Many people feel like handmade items are not as well made as those you can find in high end stores.  I am proud to make items that meet and exceed those high expectations.  With my girls clothing especially, my philosophy is that the clothing should be lovely, fun and even whimsical.  But they should never overwhelm the girl.  They should enhance her sweetness and beauty.  So I aim to keep it simple, but lovely.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I spend an enormous amount of time running my kids around.  My husband travels a fair amount for work, so I hold down the home front.  My daughter does competitive dance.  So I spend many weekends on the road with her and her dance team or shuttling her to and from practice.  My son loves sports and is a great little piano player.  He also plays the upright bass and the trumpet.  So I am running him to and from lessons as well.  When they are not consuming all of my time, I enjoy baking, experimenting with cooking gluten free/grain free foods, doing DIY projects at home and knitting.  In the summer I garden and we travel a lot.  My husband is from Europe and he traveled extensively with his parents and brother while growing up.  So it is important to him especially that we travel a lot as a family.  This past summer we spent time in Chicago, Germany, Austria and the South of France.  Meeting my girlfriends for lunch is always fun.  And I just started doing barre exercise and am enjoying it very much.  The dancer in me is coming back out!

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
Thanks to the Etsykids team for welcoming me and providing support and insight in to selling on Etsy.  I am honored to be a part of this group.

ShereesAtelier is offering a 15% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDSBLOG" at checkout. Valid until December 31st 2014.


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Meet Etsy Seller TheDamaskBaby

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Etsy shop TheDamaskBaby

TheDamaskBaby has been selling on Etsy since February 2013, they sell classically beautiful hair pieces, accessories, & props! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
After having my daughter in 2012, I quit teaching to stay home with her. I needed a creative outlet that was just "mine," and decided to start making hair accessories for little girls. Since then, my little shop has grown into many different directions. I currently design and make hair pieces, accessories, crochet items, and photo props.

What is the story behind your shop name?
I wanted a name to reflect class and elegance and also my target audience, hence "The Damask Baby" was born.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I go through phases of what I want to design... right now I am all fired up about my new line of top hats! They are so fun to design.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Getting noticed! Etsy is flooded with sellers who make the same products, that's why it's so important to be unique and have professional photographs. Even then, having your items show up in search is a daily challenge.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I am a stay at home mom with a newborn and a toddler, a job that never ends!

TheDamaskBaby is offering a 15% discount in her shop on orders over $20. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS" at checkout. Valid until December 30th 2014.
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Meet Etsy Seller Tickled Peach Studio

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop Tickled Peach Studio

Tickled Peach Studio has been selling on Etsy since August 2011, they sell personalized kids gifts, invitations and stationery! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
The birth of my daughter was my main motivation for starting my shop. I knew I had to do something to be able to stay home with her more and to be there for her school years. Plus I was unhappy with my full-time work environment and needed to break away. I started playing around with a design software and just started creating invitations.

What is the story behind your shop name?
When I started brainstorming names for my shop I kept being drawn to "Tickled Pink" but it was too common and there were already shops out there with that name. I am located in the sweet peach state of Georgia so I started playing around with shop names that had the word "peach" in them. It just hit me one day "Tickled Peach Studio". It was fun and different!

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
The most challenging parts about being an Etsy seller is being found in a sea of shops and staying unique. With the number of Etsy shops growing daily I find it a never ending task to keep listings updated to be easily found in top searches. I also knew that to help me stand out among the crowd I had to change something. So I challenged my artistic capabilities and started creating my own illustrations that are unique to me and my shop.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I believe in making the everyday special and spreading a little happiness! I love creating products that make others smile and products that others would be proud to give as a gift.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I spend my days being a wife and a mother. You'll find me volunteering at my daughter's school a lot. After school we spend our time playing, crafting, or shopping. We love to keep moving! I love baking cookies and sweets. Finding a new favorite dinner recipe is always fun! In the evenings when all is quiet I enjoy relaxing on the couch with my husband and catching up on TV shows.

Tickled Peach Studio is offering a 15% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS" at checkout. Valid until December 12th 2014.
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